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Niall rolls up to his blog, blows away the dust, sweeps away the cobwebs, taps it gently, and says:

“Hello? Is this thing on?”

Well, after what could be one of the most epic blog fades in history, I’ve decided to restart this crazy blog thing. I really have no explanation for my absence (except possibly a serious addiction to Facebook). My previous blog post was in August. Late Summer faded into Fall, Fall faded into Winter, and now Winter has faded into Spring. April showers and all that, dontcha know.

Usually after Christmas I go into a kind of blue funk that lasts through January and February, but usually in March and April I feel myself coming back to life. I wouldn’t exactly call it Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) but sometimes it sure feels like it. I feel as though I really don’t have very much to say that’s interesting, either about myself or about the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church or any of my other passions or interests. What has been said about the Catholic Church has usually been said better and in a more timely fashion by writers far better than I. I’ve thought about shutting the blog down or at least moving to another blogging platform for a new look and a fresh start. For now though, I’ve decided to keep the blog where it is and keep going.

Now that Spring is here, however, I feel the itch to do some writing, and I thought perhaps it would be best to start small with some new blog posts. I have been working a tiny bit on some unfinished fiction projects that have lain dormant for a long time, and perhaps I’ll have more to say about that later. My renewed interest in writing isn’t helped by the fact that I’m frequently hampered by pain in my lower back, legs, and feet that seems to be getting steadily worse. About the only things that really help are prescription pain relievers and sitting with my wheelchair seat tilted back at an angle. Unfortunately with the wheelchair seat tilted back, it’s impossible to use the keyboard and mouse. However, I’m thinking about possible solutions including using a lap tray and wireless keyboard or even dictating my stories to at least get them out of my head.

It also didn’t help that in the last few days I discovered my computer was infested with malware, spyware, and for all I know, under-ware, that made it nearly impossible to use the internet without millions of annoying ads and pop-ups appearing. Desperate for a solution, I had to call HP, renew the warranty on my now aging desktop machine, and get a couple of technicians to take over the computer remotely and purge it of all the offending unwanted software. A whole afternoon and at least $50 later, the computer is now malware free, at least for the moment. The whole experience has made me skittish about using, and especially downloading, anything from the internet, at least for the time being. It made me nostalgic for the days of manual typewriters or the pre-internet days of the late ’80s and early ’90s where each computer was a standalone machine and one could use it without fear of being infected by something evil.

So that, Dear Reader (if I have any regular readers left), in a few brief paragraphs, is a summary of where the blog is today. I will do my utmost to be a more regular and faithful correspondent. Until next time, friends.

Nowhere much, but the blog has suffered, unfortunately. In May I received an Amazon Kindle Fire from my brother Bill, something I’d been hoping for and hinting at for quite some time whenever possible birthday and Christmas presents were mentioned. I am ready to proclaim this thing the coolest gadget in the history of gadgets. Being able to take a library of e-books, apps, and podcasts, with me anywhere I go on one little easily portable device has been enormously liberating for me. On these lazy summer days, I can read, chat on Facebook, play a game, or surf the web from anywhere in the house, including my nice comfy bed if I so choose. Interestingly, I find myself downloading a slew of superhero-themed e-books and comics, returning to an old interest of mine. The Kindle revolutionizes the experience of reading, so I’m dusting off some old, unfinished superhero writing projects of my own and daydreaming about the time when they just might appear on an e-book reader near you. We shall see.

Stratford “Strat” Caldecott, the British Catholic author, speaker, and Marvel Comics fan that I blogged about in my last entry, has died. He passed into eternal life July 17 with his wife and daughters at his side. Here is a link to the obituary published by Second Spring, the journal he edited. I had not heard of him until recently, and of course I did not know the man personally, but I wish I had. I shall have to read one of his books. Any man who loved Marvel Comics, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Catholic faith is someone I would like to have met. From all accounts, he was a man of deep faith, profound intellectual insight, and a gentle sense of humor. I am sure he will be missed by those who knew and loved him. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

I heard about this yesterday on Facebook, and I thought it was so cool I had to join in.

Catholic writer and Marvel Comics fan Stratford “Strat” Caldecott is in the last stages of a long fight against prostate cancer. In order to make his remaining time as pleasant as possible, his daughters have asked Marvel Studios for an advance copy of the Captain America: The Winter Soldier DVD because Mr. Caldecott was too ill to go to the theater and see the movie. They’ve also reached out to stars of the Marvel superhero movies and the TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. via Facebook and Twitter asking them to tweet photos with messages of love and support with the hashtag #CapforStrat.Mr. Caldecott’s daughter Sophie reports that Marvel executives have arranged for a private screening of the film, and that many Marvel stars and ordinary people alike have tweeted their support. I’m not a movie star, but I’d like Mr. Caldecott and family to know I’m with them.

NOTE: I originally posted this on Holy Thursday 2012, and unfortunately once again I’m ill on Holy Thursday, so I’m going to have to repost this. Prayers for all my readers as we enter the Blessed Triduum.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend tonight’s Holy Thursday liturgy due to illness. For all those in a similar situation, whether due to illness or some other reason, I offer this, the beautiful Eucharistic hymn “Tantum ergo sacramentum,” traditionally sung as the Eucharist is removed from the Tabernacle to a place of repose. The lyrics in Latin and in English are as follows:

I arise todayThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the TrinityThrough belief in the threenessThrough confession of the OnenessTowards the creator.

I arise todayThrough the strength of Christ with his baptism,Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascensionThrough the strength of his descent for the Judgement of doom.I arise todayThrough the strength of the love of CherubimIn obedience to the Angels,In the service of the Archangels,In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,In prayers of patriarchs,In predictions of prophets,In preaching of Apostles,In faiths of confessors,In innocence of Holy Virgins,In deeds of righteous men.

I arise todayThrough the strength of heaven:Light of sunBrilliance of moonSplendor of fireSpeed of lightningSwiftness of wind Depth of seaStability of earthFirmness of rock.I arise todayThrough God’s strength to pilot me:God’s might to uphold me,God’s wisdom to guide meGod’s eye to look before me,God’s ear to hear me,God’s word to speak for me,God’s hand to guard me,God’s way to lie before me,God’s host to secure meagainst snares of devilsagainst temptations of vicesagainst inclinations of natureagainst everyone who shall wish me ill,afar and anear,alone and in a crowd.A summon today all these powers between me and these evilsAgainst every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul,Against incantations of false prophets,Against black laws of heathenry,Against false laws of heretics,Against craft of idolatry,Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,Against every knowledge that endangers man’s body and soul.Christ to protect me todayagainst poison, against burning,against drowning, against wounding,so that there may come abundance of reward.Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my leftChrist where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I ariseChrist in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me.I arise todayThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,Through belief in the Thrones,Through confession of the OnenessTowards the Creator.Salvation is of the LordSalvation is of the LordSalvation is of ChristMay thy salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bride chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests the Lord’ s ministers shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people. And the Lord answered and said to his people: Behold I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them: and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.